San Francisco 49ers: Full 2018 depth-chart predictions ahead of Week 1
By Peter Panacy
Safety
Free Safety: Adrian Colbert, D.J. Reed
Strong Safety: Jaquiski Tartt, Antone Exum
Again, nothing too surprising here out of the starting crop. Adrian Colbert and Jaquiski Tartt will be the 49ers’ starting safety tandem this season, and the hope is both wind up remaining fully healthy over the course of the year.
Tartt broke out in a strong safety role before a broken forearm sidelined his 2017 efforts prematurely. He seems to be a natural fit down in the box, which allows Colbert to patrol the single-high safety role in coordinator Robert Saleh’s defense.
Colbert’s ranginess and ability to converge quickly to one side of the field or another makes him a unique find for the position, although it’s a role of extreme significance in Saleh’s scheme.
Things get a bit interesting with depth, however. 2018 rookie sixth-round pick, Marcell Harris, heads to injured reserve, according to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco. Harris, who suffered an Achilles injury in college a year ago, missed preseason action almost entirely. He would have backed up Tartt, most likely, at strong safety.
Meanwhile, fifth-round rookie D.J. Reed spent a lot of time in camp and the preseason at free safety. A natural nickel corner, Reed’s flexibility will be vital to San Francisco’s depth.